23 Sept 2012

What's in the Carrier Bag

A couple of years ago Steve Ramsden and I walked for 11 hours to look at the blocks strewn across the edges of Urra Moor - a vast amount of blocks and crags meandering into the distance.  This trip left me feeling uncertain wether I would publicise what I had seen in a guide; but I knew the solace of the ridge would draw me back, not caring how remote, clean or spread out the climbing was.

The latest visits have been very worthwhile, due to the fact that James, Steve and Mike have a similar attitude towards climbing. The 'make the most of what's there approach' It's a bit like Ready Steady Cook. The TV show were chefs are given a carrier bag full of mystery ingredients and they have to make the best dish out of what they have got.

The end result was a tasty mixed menu of problems.
Best not park here
James sticking the sloper
Incredible slopers - Mike on a new problem - Point of Inertia
At last I win a pint off Mike - No Flash
Dave on a fine little Tranmire crag problem
James bags his project

17 Sept 2012

He's a Legend

A big 40 for Jame's this weekend! It was a good excuse to get away and have a big social.
We all decided to have a blast on the sunny Scuggy blocks and crag.
We were joined by the local Legend and grade Connoisseur Steven Phelps, showing us the way on most of the classics.
Mike Kenyon On Stewer.
He's a Legend.
Mike Adams on Grandmaster Flash.
We Close our Eyes, the central line on the west wall at the lesser trodden White Stone blocks at Scugdale.
James burning off the birthday cake calories at White Stone.

12 Sept 2012

The Inbetweeners

Scratched an itch the weekend passed, firstly two quality blocks in-between Duck boulders and Oak Crag. that have been on my mind for a long while. This ended up with the usual 'I'll smash them lines in, they look easy, which ended up quite a long session, working it out and pulling harder than expected, love it when this happens.
The next day was spent on more new ground, with the some 'downs and ups' not 'ups and downs' finishing on a couple of big blocks previously missed?!
Franco on a project
A rare view of the Wainstones
Value for money leaning block
Thin highball slab climbing on boulders

3 Sept 2012

Computer Says No

 Just a quickie, more development going on with help from the Moors massive, this time on the second longest  ridge of blocks on the moors, thankfully it's not as tricky as Ingleby, Having only put up a couple of problems before It was good to make a start on this part of the moor, with some surprises as always, how do we miss so much?
Also managed the hardest sit start I've ever done. Under a bivi cave, a full on hard pull, you hold the holds prepare to pull, body says go, nothing happpens, pull harder, It hurts, nothing happens, you need to re-boot with more RAM, then some how it comes together.
 
This is what it's all about, still a project after two sessions.
19 problems 5 projects, Never mind the crag! It's a good job I understand these scribbles.